{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Maryland Now","title":"Party Like It’s 1999: How One Bill Reshaped Maryland’s Energy Market","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2275,"description":"Maryland Now opens its debut season with a deep examination of how a single piece of legislation from 1999 reshaped Maryland’s electricity market and helped set the stage for some of the energy challenges the state faces today. Hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin walk through the political forces, policy decisions, and long-term consequences that contribute to the high electric bills Marylanders are opening this winter. With energy prices rising sharply and lawmakers under pressure to respond, this episode connects the past to the present and highlights why the 2026 legislative session is so pivotal.Episode OverviewMarylanders across the state are seeing unusually high utility bills after weeks of freezing temperatures. At the same time, the General Assembly has kicked off a session that will be dominated by energy policy, affordability, and the search for solutions.This episode explores why electricity prices are spiking, how data centers and the grid operator's planning failures are driving demand, why there are no short-term fixes, the political pressure of an election year, the influence of utilities, lobbyists, and major industrial players, and how consumers often get sidelined in complex policy debates.But mostly, the episode travels back to 1999, when Maryland lawmakers — under pressure from Enron, industrial giants, and legislative leaders — passed a sweeping deregulation bill that fundamentally changed how electricity is generated and sold.You’ll hear insights from three major players from that 1999 legislative debate — and from a consumer advocate who helps Marylanders struggling with their utility bills. They break down the rushed negotiations, the rate freezes, the political maneuvering, and the ripple effects that still shape Maryland’s energy landscape.Key Topics CoveredThe 2026 energy crisis, including why bills are rising so quickly, how data centers and grid constraints are straining supply, and the steep learning curve lawmakers...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/cWPrI2HtFRFi4-cEgG9AilW5PwDl7N2ksf_B2iAK6ck/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9mMjlm/MWRkNGZkYjQxNzZh/ZjI0NTRjNmVmNTg2/NjBjMC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}